the end
La Cieca really, really doesn’t like to say this, but the truth seems to be staring us in the face, so here goes. We have seen the last of Rolando Villazón at the Met. Even though he’s announced as having canceled only the first two performances of Elisir, it’s pretty clear that he’s just not able or willing (or both?) to get his voice and confidence into solid enough shape to appear in New York.
Nemorino is (as tenor roles go) not a particularly difficult sing, and it’s a role that’s always been central to his repertoire. But now it appears Villazón can’t sing even Nemorino up to Met standards, which means he basically can’t sing anything.
As a friend of La Cieca said on the phone a few minutes ago, “It never happens to the ones you want it to happen to,” and, sadly, that’s the case here.
In case anyone hasn’t heard, Brewer has cancelled.
With all due respect to LA CIECA I think she is being a bit over the top & melodramatic about all this. Obviously Villazon is going through some kind of vocal crisis but to claim “we have seen the last of Rolando Villazon at the MET” seems a bit much. I actually saw two performances of Tales of Hoffmann at Covent Garden in the fall, just a few months ago..in one of them Villazon sounded PHENOMENAL, in the other he had a complete meltdown. There is still something there….
amerjacquino, no, it is actually Studer’s fault for having shown up at DGG’s comeback party for RV in Madrid late last year. Placido was there as well so I guess we can spread the blame between Cheryl and him.
http://www.elcultural.es/version_papel/MUSICA/22899/Kleenex
(-:
I wish he would just take some real time – I mean a complete season, at least, I think the man can afford it – and figure out his voice! I don’t believe this is the end for him, if he does that. God knows he is incredibly appealing as an entertainer, as a heartfelt performer. People need to knock off the comparisons to Beczala, also. Different voices, different artists. Rolando is one of a kind, and he can get through this. All the best to him!!!!!! (There are voices out there right now that are on far shakier ground, imho. He just probably didn’t feel he could risk another scandal at the MET at this point, if he isn’t up to it.)
sterlingkay, I would say that la Cieca’s prediction is more to do with the business side of opera than Villazon’s actual vocal condition. The implication is that he is too much of a gamble for a major house like the Met. The people on the ‘meltdown’ nights have to pay the same ticket prices as the ones who get a ‘phenomenal’ evening, and in a recession you can’t afford to rely on an audience’s optimism or goodwill in that way.
#17 — “Bitter, table for one”….
I stnnd sadly corrected. I’m with So Sad, hoping that it’s just laryngitis, something that can heal and that he’ll finish the run, just as he did for Werther in Paris. I, too, am so glad that I saw him in performance. What a committed, generous performer (and colleague, from what I hear). But I wouldn’t take a chance on buying a ticket to hear him these days. A friend who heard him in small European houses can’t believe how much better those venues suit him, so maybe RV will take the hint. Let’s not even talk about Hoffman–will he be able to do Idomeneo next season in Paris? I’m not in a state of disbelief but I do hope that Rolando can work through the difficulties. Refuat hanefesh, refuat hagufe–I wish him a healing of the soul and of the body.
Massimo Giordano is flying in from Europe for the dress rehearsal tomorrow and first two performances (even though there are a slew of tenors in the house who know it well like Barry Banks, Calleja, Juan Diego). Also, added to the list of Brünnhildes, there is now also Dalayman in addition to Theorin and Watson.
amerjacquino on #26: true but what explains, then, the continued hiring by Gelb & Co. of gambles such as Heppner and Morris and now Voigt. The latter has yet to have a veritable meltdown but she will very soon. Her deplorable vocal state at the Gala was but the tip of the iceberg. And don’t get me going on Heppner and Morris, please!
I meant #25.